The Lineage page creates interactive diagrams that visualize the full journey of your data. It answers a key question: where does this data come from, and what relies on it?
The diagram traces the flow from connections and databases through tables and fields, finally reaching the Tableau workbooks, dashboards, and storyboards.
How to Access
- Open RapidDox BulkPro.
- In the left navigation menu, under General, click Lineage.
Generating a Diagram
The Lineage tool supports two "modes" depending on where you want to start your analysis. First, select your Metadata Source at the top of the filter section.
Mode A: Impact Analysis (Connection Centred)
Use this mode to see what downstream assets depend on a specific data connection, database, table, or field.
- Set Select Source Type to Data Connection.
- Select the specific Data Connection from the dropdown (Required).
- Select specific Databases, Tables, or Fields (Optional).
Note: If a level is left empty, all of its "children" are automatically included. For example, selecting a Table but leaving Fields empty will include all fields from that table. - Click Submit.
Result: A lineage diagram is generated starting from your selected data assets and expanding downstream to reveal the Workbooks that utilize them.
Mode B: Dependency Analysis (Tableau Server Workbooks Centred)
Use this mode to see what feeds into a specific workbook.
- Set Select Source Type to Tableau Server.
- Select the Site (Required).
- Select the Project and Workbook Name(s) (Optional).
Note: Similar to Mode A, if the lower level selections are left empty, BulkPro automatically includes everything under them. For example, selecting a site and a project but not selecting any workbooks will include all workbooks within that project. - Click Submit.
Result: A lineage diagram is generated starting from your selected workbooks and expanding upstream to reveal the Data Sources, Tables, Fields, and Connections that feed them.
Understanding the Diagram
The diagram is composed of nodes representing the hierarchy of your data and content. You will encounter nodes for:
- Data Level: Connection, Database, Table.
- Tableau Level: Workbook, Datasource, Table (of Tableau Datasources), Field (of Tableau Datasources) , Calculated Field, Parameter, Set, Group.
- Visual Level: Worksheet, Dashboard, Storyboard.
Important Note on Workbook Visibility: The workbook portion of the diagram is always shown in full to preserve context. Even if only a small part of a workbook uses the specific upstream table you filtered for, the entire structure of that workbook will be displayed.
Interacting with the Diagram
The diagram provides several tools to help you navigate complex environments.
Highlighting and Tracing
- Hover to Highlight: Hovering over any node highlights its direct connections, helping you trace immediate relationships.
- Click to Lock: Click on a node to "lock" the highlight. This keeps the path active even when you move your mouse away, which is useful for tracing long, complex paths.
- Clear Highlight: Use the button in the top right corner to reset any active highlights.
Navigation and Layout
- Zoom & Pan: Use the controls in the bottom-left to zoom in, zoom out, or reset the view to center.
- Lock Diagram: You can "lock" the diagram to prevent accidental movement of nodes while you are analyzing the flow.
- Mini-Map: A mini-map in the bottom-right shows your current viewport. You can toggle this on or off.
- Collapse/Expand Workbook Nodes: If a diagram is crowded, you can click the collapse button on a Workbook node to hide its children and focus on the other portions of the diagram.
Node Details
- Tooltips: Hovering over some nodes will show a tooltip describing what type of entity does it represent (e.g., Calculated Field, Parameter, etc.).
- Unused Fields: Look for the "Unused Fields" icon on Datasource nodes. Clicking this reveals a list of fields defined in the datasource but not used.
Use Cases
- Impact Analysis: Determine exactly which dashboards will break if a database team changes a table or column.
- Troubleshooting: Trace the origin of incorrect data displayed in a dashboard back to the specific field and table.